You stated you want to have 10,000 living downtown. How do you plan to achieve that goal? That City already has tax abatements for residential development downtown and incentives for vacant lots. What more can you do to bring people into our core?

by James Y10/18/2012 4:50:02 PM

Atchison says council acted to get more lots service to keep up with demand.

by dhutton10/18/2012 4:50:25 PM

Atchison credits Neault, Heidt, and Penner with pushing more lots, which brought people into the city instead of bedroom communities. "If there are not lots available, where are you going to live?" Atchison says. Gerry Klein says question is about how to attract people to the downtown.

by dhutton10/18/2012 4:51:42 PM

Atchison says "there are different types of lifestyles. We haven't got enough people attracted to living downtown. But it's occurring." He cites the art gallery and theatre as amenities that will attract people to the downtown. "We need to get a better mix. It needs to be a better cross-section of the community."

by dhutton10/18/2012 4:52:47 PM

Atchison says suburban living "is because of our Prairie roots." Many people come from farms, which have space. This is what makes Warman and Martensville attractive to many rural people working in Saskatoon.

Atchison says he would "absolutely" support architectural controls in the downtown. The idea "scares a lot of people" because of "the word control." It's just "about a theme," he says, not "controlling business." Buildings need a theme "for first three or four storeys." Atchison says U of S great example of controlled architecture.

by dhutton10/18/2012 4:58:22 PM

"Most great cities do have themes."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:00:11 PM

Question from Scott: "With absolutely no funding secured for a north bridge project, how can we afford such a investment? It would only add 75-90 million to our debt with nothing to pay for it. I support a north bridge, but I would like details as to where you think this money should come from."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:00:45 PM

Atchison says south bridge project was envisioned without funding yet in place. "If we don't start having those discussions right now and start looking financing right now, it won't happen."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:01:28 PM

Gerry Klein asks about toll road. Atchison says "that's a stretch for me." The people who live there were told they would have a bridge the same as other bridges in Saskatoon, so it would be unfair to toll one bridge, and not others.

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:02:12 PM

Atchison says the perimeter highway bridge north of Saskatoon could potentially have a toll, if the province explores that concept as a means of financing.

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:02:55 PM

Atchison cites study by NSBA looking at financing of north bridge. McLaughlin asks how those interests are balanced with general interests of the public. Atchison says lots of interests represented in the study. The city "will look at the best interests for the city as a whole."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:04:06 PM

Question: "If the city isn't collecting enough money, and we can't get any additional funds for operating or infrastructure from other levels of government, do we as a city stay the course or increase our taxes to the point where we can do it ourselves." Does he support a tax increase?

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:05:05 PM

Atchison says "anything is possible" on a tax freeze, "but at what expense?"

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:05:39 PM

Gerry Klein asks about where money should from at the provincial level for a long-term infrastructure program. For instance, a penny tax? Atchison cites the municipal operating grant from the province (one point of the PST) as a step forward. But the city "isn't receiving our fair share," he says. He's calling for a strict per capita formula.

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:08:09 PM

Atchison says no municipality should take less, but there should be a new formula on a per capita basis with any "new money" from the one point of the PST.

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:09:47 PM

Atchison says he understands constraints at the provincial level. That's why long-term sustainable funding is necessary. Doesn't want to negotiate in public. "When you start talking about them in a public forum you start drawing lines in the sand."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:11:43 PM

Atchison cites savings and sustainability report, which showed $7M in savings. "It's the idea of thinking different. It's not thinking outside the box."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:12:59 PM

MacPherson asks about no public beach of Spadina sand bar, which shows traditional thinking, he says. Atchison says "it's strictly the liabilities."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:13:32 PM

"It doesn't mean the river shouldn't be used more," Atchison said. "We have to be able to find places where it's safe."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:14:37 PM

Now talking about south bridge. Atchison says "safety is job one" before it is opened.

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:15:53 PM

Gerry Klein asks about underfunding about pensions. When did you personally become aware of this?

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:16:55 PM

Atchison says he was aware of liabilities since he was on council. Points out firefighters' plan is in good shape.

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:19:12 PM

Atchison says the deficit number cited by CTF is the figure if the city had to pay everyone out.

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:20:32 PM

What should happen? "We have to deal with it going forward. It's not for the current members, it's for future members."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:20:56 PM

Atchison: "I firmly believe a deal is a deal." Atchison says there's a range of options for new members. Says there is more options than just defined benefit and defined contribution plans. "There's lots of room in between."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:21:51 PM

From Jerry Berko: "Mr. Atchison is anything being done about attracting a grocery store downtown. I know its dependent on population but we had stores in past with less population."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:24:21 PM

Atchison said "we talked to Safeway, we talked to Sobey's, we talked to Superstore." "For them it's about population. It's the chicken and the egg sort of thing."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:25:11 PM

Atchison said the chains said "when you're larger, give me a shout." Atchison said the city needs longer-term tax incentives in the downtown.

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:25:49 PM

McLaughlin asks if his team is doing polling? Atchison says he's been doing auto-calling and personal phone calls but no numbers. Atchison says voter turnout is in bad shape. Supports voter list to help turnout.

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:27:00 PM

"We're fighting with one hand behind our back all the time" without a voter list. "It's one of the key readings you need to have." Atchison says "democracy sometimes costs money."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:27:56 PM

The conversation is wrapping up. Atchison raises regionalism and regional planning as imperative to what the city is trying to do. Wall raised regionalism in his planning document. "We've been working on that."

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:30:51 PM

And that's a wrap. Thanks for joining and for all the question that have been posed by the public. We tried to get to as many as we could. I'll post some of the comments that have been streaming in in a few minutes.

by dhutton10/18/2012 5:32:40 PM

A mayor's race poll has just been released by Insightrx. Check TheStarPhoenix.com for an update right away.

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